Remarks from Morning Prayers 2024 at Harvard
Good morning.
Find yourself a teacher, win yourself a friend, and be one who judges everyone by giving them the benefit of the doubt.
These Talmudic words are part of a compendium called ‘Pirkei Avot,’ or ‘Sayings of the Fathers’ that are traditionally read on the Sabbath day. Today, on the first day of classes of the fall semester, you do not need to be a student to benefit from their insight.
Find yourself a teacher. Seek out people whose experiences, skills, and perspectives are different from your own, and whose knowledge and wisdom often exceed yours.
Win yourself a friend. Friendship is a reciprocal relationship. Not only must you find the friend, but you must earn the friendship by being a friend, offering companionship, empathy, concern, support and trustworthiness.
Be one who judges everyone by giving them the benefit of the doubt. We’re all too adept at recognizing the flaws of our antagonists and even of our friends. It’s tempting to interpret the actions of others in the worst possible light. It is better for all of us to do the opposite, consciously striving to judge others in the best possible light, in the words of Rabbi Irving Greenberg, shows our true respect for them. People who judge in this way will be better people themselves and will more likely evoke the best possible behavior from others.
How should we interpret these words at a tumultuous time like this one?
Yesterday, many of us attended a particularly beautiful convocation for the first year undergraduates. The enthusiasm and the optimism of the new students uplifted us all as we sensed the seemingly limitless possibilities ahead, and judging from the new students I met with, openness to hearing and benefiting from the diverse views of a diverse group of people.
Yet we also know that this fall is not likely to be calm, with memories of the spring still fresh. We expect that there will be debate and argument, there will be dissent and protest. There will no doubt, be hard feelings and hurt feelings among us, if you believe the headlines. And last month was awash in them. Those of us who are fortunate enough to be a part of universities have no choice but to brace ourselves.
What a bleak notion that is at an institution such as this one.
As a place to find a teacher and to win a friend, it is hard to imagine a better environment than ours. This is one of the world’s finest centers of learning and teaching with some of the world’s greatest scholars and researchers. With some of the world’s most challenging issues and most complex problems in our sights.
As a place to find your teacher and to win some friends, it is hard to imagine a better environment than ours. This is one of the world’s finest centers of learning and teaching with some of the world’s greatest scholars and researchers with some of the world’s most challenging issues and most complex problems in our sights. Here we are peering into the unknown, teetering on the verge of discovery, ushering in a new era of insight. Here we are pushing the limits of understanding, pursuing genuine excellence in every domain, and making ourselves, our university and the world better.
Here, we are blessed with resources beyond many of our wildest dreams. Laboratories laden with the most advanced equipment, libraries and museums brimming with collections that would take a lifetime and more to fully explore. Breathtaking architecture, beautiful landscapes, herbarium — notice plural — as well as an arboretum in Boston, a forest in Petersham, a garden in our nation’s capital, a villa in Florence, all of the many places on our campus and beyond, where we feel enlarged by association, all of the many things that make it possible for the people of Harvard to do their best work and to be their best selves.
Here we are blessed with both opportunity and community. Here we are together, and bracing ourselves is the best we can do? I don’t think so. I am a person who has faith in our capacity to listen attentively and generously, to treat one another with decency and respect, to recognize every day how special a place this is, and how much depth result, not of our physical resources, but of our relationships.
This is not a time to brace ourselves. This is a time to embrace one another. We can do so by always keeping these precepts in mind. Be one who judges everyone by giving them the benefit of the doubt. By reserving judgment, we make it possible for others to know that they are part of this community and that this community cares for them as much as you hope and expect it will. Disappointment in this regard is a crushing blow not to the will, but to the spirit, with belonging and the freedom and peace that it brings out of reach.
We cannot afford to build walls that separate us from one another. We cannot be quick to pass judgment. We must devote ourselves to knowing one another better, to seeing how things look from a perspective that differs from our own. We must try to bring day to day interactions the same commitment to inquiry and discovery that we bring to our intellectual pursuits. If and when tensions among us mount, I hope that we will approach each other, not only as fellow human beings, but as potential teachers and friends.
To do so, we must welcome humility and humanity into interactions with each other more readily than the sense of righteousness. I hope that we can grow in understanding, lifting each other up and urging each other on along the way. And I hope, most of all, that we can take the time to appreciate the fact that we have the chance to do all of these difficult things in the first place.
Here we are at an institution whose name has long been synonymous with excellence, with opportunities that few can equal. Here we are together at a university that belongs to each of us, as we find teachers and win friends. Let us be slow to judge and quick to renew our commitments to one another as we work to make the world a better place.
Thank you.
Remarks from 2024 Convocation, Harvard University
As prepared for delivery
Welcome, members of the Harvard College Class of 2028.
Welcome from every continent save Antarctica. Welcome from each state in the Union—and from DC, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands.
Like me, fifty-seven of you hail from the Land of Lincoln. And two of you are named “Alan.”
A very special one of you was a summer Olympian. Thank you for making Harvard proud in Paris.
Your class is 1,650 strong. That number contains multitudes—countless ideas about what these next few years could hold for you—countless identities, ideologies, and interests—passions and pursuits.
The same is true of returning undergraduates, as well as graduate and professional students from across the University. Some of them are here today. They are of many minds about events unfolding in the wider world, and their diversity of perspective is part of what makes this among the richest learning environments you will ever encounter.
Being in this environment—in this community—means having rights and responsibilities.
Those gathered here have the right to express themselves freely—to dissent and protest. But they also have the responsibility to act with each of you—and the meaning of this occasion—in mind. We are convened to welcome you. Each of you should leave this gathering feeling acknowledged and accepted by our community.
What do we stand for at Harvard?
We stand for growing in knowledge and wisdom—not only through intellectual and extracurricular pursuits but through everyday interactions, through disagreement and argument, through conflict and reconciliation. You will learn at least as much from one another as you will from anyone else at Harvard—and you will learn more in difficult moments of tension than in easy moments of understanding. Be prepared to defend your point of view. Be prepared to articulate points of view that are different from your own. Be prepared, most of all, to change your mind.
We stand for seeking, supporting, and sustaining excellence from as broad, as diverse a pool of talent as possible. That is the beauty of the University. It attracts and supports interesting and ambitious individuals with different experiences and perspectives, individuals who challenge one another by virtue of being together in community. We acknowledge and celebrate that beauty—and the beauty of pluralism—with our willingness to encounter beliefs that are not our own, to be curious and respectful, to be genuinely attentive despite our tendency to be pulled in a million directions at once.
It should come as no surprise to you that this work cannot be done well on your phone. Think of how many assumptions you make when those three little bubbles let you know that someone is typing—and then how many more assumptions you make when those three little bubbles stop bubbling. Think of how much time you have devoted to unraveling those assumptions when you discover that you were down a rabbit hole of your own digging. There is no time for that now. Here you have no time to waste. Before the week is out, arrange to sit outside with a person you don’t know well, pick a place together in advance, and—this is essential—leave your phones in your rooms while you get to know each other. Fifteen minutes is enough time.
I think you will discover quickly the virtue of removing distraction. Send me an email and let me know who you meet, how it goes, and what you learn. My address is easy enough to remember: president@harvard.edu.
Learning to focus on another person, to listen sincerely and generously, to cultivate compassion and empathy: these are not indicators of intellectual prowess—they are qualities of humanity. You need both in equal measure if you hope to leave Harvard College having done what is expected of you. Open your mind, and your world will expand. Open your heart, and you’ll make lifelong friends.
I still keep in touch with people I met during my first week on campus. A lot has changed since I moved into Claverly Hall in 1973, but there is one characteristic of Harvard people that has always stood out to me—and stands the test of time.
We stand for excellence, embracing “both/and” rather than “either/or.”
What do I mean by that? Here, you will often encounter individuals who don’t accept the notion that they can do only one thing really well. You can be both a mathematician and a competitive cyclist, both a folklorist and a committed journalist, both an engineer and a graceful dancer. Combinations and permutations too numerous to mention often lead to improbable and stunning successes—and testaments to what can be accomplished in a single lifetime.
Everyone you will hear from this afternoon is here to help you realize your own take on “both/and.” We want your initial discomfort at encountering the vast landscape of opportunity before you to yield to wonder at the possibilities. We want you to feel supported in focusing on multiple interests and pursuing multiple goals. We want you to feel confident in following hunches and taking risks—and just as confident in changing course as you become more knowledgeable about who you are and what brings you joy and fulfillment.
Your time is precious. If you invest in people and situations that bring out the best in you, you will become a better version of yourself—and your years here will have been very well spent.
Speaking of your precious time, I will not use a minute more of it.
Welcome, members of the Class of 2028. I cannot wait to learn more about you—and what you learn about one another. I look forward to what you will accomplish as undergraduates both through your chosen work and in your daily dealings. Congratulations on your arrival—we are thrilled that you are here!
Strengthening America’s Economic Dynamism
Featuring Lawrence H. Summers, Charles W. Eliot University Professor and President Emeritus at Harvard University and former United States Secretary of the Treasury; and Robert B. Zoellick, Chair of Temasek Americas and former United States Trade Representative; in conversation with Melissa S. Kearney, director of the Aspen Economic Strategy Group. Americans are facing an era of economic reconfiguration driven by rising global tensions, technological change, and a populist backlash to the economic status quo. Leaders on both sides of the political aisle are increasingly turning away from free market principles and endorsing protectionist trade policies and government industrial policy. This shift threatens to end an era characterized by international economic cooperation and broad-based global growth. What does this mean for America’s economic dynamism? What steps should US policy and business leaders take to advance innovation, growth, and widespread economic prosperity? Presented as part of the Hurst Lecture Series.
Harvard Alumni Day 2024 Remarks
As delivered
I hope that Harvard will always continue to be a place where free speech continues to thrive.
Greetings, fellow travelers. What a long strange trip it’s been.
With a special shoutout to the Class of 1974. And many of you will remember that you first heard those words on an album that was released during your first semester of college. And I bet they’ve gone through your heads many many times since then.
This has been an difficult year for all of us who love Harvard and who cherish our connection to this extraordinary institution and to one another. I cannot recount everything that’s happened over these past two semesters—we would be here through Sunday no doubt—but I can tell you that I have never felt more grateful for what usually happens here.
We learn, and we teach. We devote ourselves to research and scholarship. We ask questions—and more questions. We expand knowledge. We discover and innovate. And—in too many ways to count—we make life better than it was yesterday.
All of that happens every year. It happened this year, too. Across the University, students had the kinds of experiences and conversations—with friends and with faculty—that set the course of my future when I was an undergraduate. Across fields and disciplines, faculty had the kinds of insights and breakthroughs that expand the frontiers of knowledge and propel humanity forward. Despite challenging circumstances—despite conflict and upheaval—despite relentless scrutiny and public criticism—Harvard never stopped humming with the energy of possibility.
When I spoke with the Harvard College Class of 2024 last week, I focused on some of the ways in which they saw and seized possibilities over these past four years, and I encouraged them to look to one another for inspiration in the years to come, as you surely look to your own classmates and contemporaries. And, when I spoke with the entire Harvard Class of 2024 two days later, I encouraged them to look to research universities for inspiration because no other institution can do what they do to make the world a better place.
Individuals and institutions: This gathering—our gathering—represents the power that exists at that intersection. Harvard is each of us, and each of us is Harvard. It is impossible to imagine all that has been achieved by everyone in this space—and the many more of us who are making contributions around the world. That thought—of effort and excellence that surpasses measurement—makes me incredibly proud to be part of this place, even when times are tough. Especially when times are tough.
I trust that our community can emerge from our trials better and stronger. To do that, we must work to value generous listening at least as much as informed speaking, to celebrate passionate discourse and reasoned debate, to champion decency, empathy, and integrity, particularly in times of conflict and division. We have, perhaps, taken these skills for granted as they have eroded in wider society. Now is the time to think creatively and ambitiously about how we can expand our efforts to rebuild a culture of civility and respect, a culture that empowers people to come together in a spirit of goodwill.
We have just taken an essential step forward on this front. In April, Provost Manning and I asked a working group to consider whether and when Harvard should speak on public issues. On Tuesday, the group’s final report was released. Going forward, in accordance with recommendations accepted by the president, the provost, and the deans—and endorsed by the Corporation—neither the University nor its leadership will issue official statements on matters that do not directly affect our core functions. This approach is intended to preserve open inquiry and academic freedom by making it easier for all members of the community to express their views. It is a foundational commitment, and I am eager to see it implemented.
I will have more to share with you when we meet one year from now—all good things, I hope. I look forward to charting our path forward, keeping our community on firm footing, and ensuring that the University succeeds in its core mission of excellence in teaching, learning, and research.
Finally, some words of gratitude. You, the alumni community, have been a source of wisdom, inspiration, and joy for me over the decades. Never more so than in the past five months. When days seemed longer and stranger than I could have dreamed, there always seemed to be a Harvard person who had just said or done something wonderful—islands of calm through change and through storm.
Enjoy your precious time together. And enjoy this precious place, which is better beyond measure for your being part of it.
Thank you.
Remarks to the Harvard Class of 2024
To all assembled in this majestic theatre to cheer for the members of the Class of 2024, welcome!
Members of the dazzling Class of 2024, this is your day, a day to celebrate and shine. Congratulations!
We are gathered here today—at the heart of our campus—with family and friends who have traveled from across the country and around the world—to acknowledge achievement, to celebrate the conferral of degrees, and to listen to and learn from our distinguished speaker.
As our ceremony proceeds, some among us may choose to take the liberty of expressing themselves to draw attention to events unfolding in the wider world. It is their right to do so. But it is their responsibility to do so with our community—and this occasion—in mind.
That said, I acknowledge that this moment of joy for us coincides with moments for others that we cannot comprehend—moments of fear and dread, grief and anguish, suffering and pain. Elsewhere, people are experiencing the worst days of their lives. Here and there, we are all human beings, seeking connection and contentment, finding comfort in community and rituals, trying simply—as difficult as it may be—to make sense of things as they are, to make sense of one another and of ourselves.
Sympathy and empathy atrophy without exercise. We will now observe a minute of silence.
Every Harvard Class enters a world in need. Yours is no exception. No matter your field or discipline, you will have opportunities to help fulfill those needs and to make things better. May you continue to approach your dealings with diligence and integrity—to treat others with care and compassion—and to support and encourage one another as you have done these many days.
If, along the way, you find yourself disheartened—or doomscrolling in bed (we all do it!)—fortify yourself with the work of the research university. Having spent most of my career at two of the best of them, I can say with confidence—while admitting a slight bias, of course—that no other type of institution does more good in the world.
Much of what stirs people’s hearts and gives them hope—for longer and better lives, for stronger and safer communities, for a sustainable future—can be traced back to institutions like this one—and to people like you.
Members of the Class of 2024, go forth today in celebration, and wake tomorrow with determination. Meet the world in need with open arms, knowing always that Harvard will be here to welcome you back. Thank you—and congratulations.
Reflections on Antisemitism and the University
This is an edited and slightly extended version of remarks delivered at the Harvard Medical and Dental School Shabbat Observance on Nov. 10, 2023. The opinions expressed reflect only the views of the author.
I am honored by the invitation to be here. I am identified but not devout or highly observant—less familiar with Shabbat rituals than almost all of you. Indeed, but for the harrowing events of the last month it is very unlikely that I would be attending a Shabbat dinner tonight.
We are—I am convinced—at a moment of mortal and moral peril in the world and in university communities like our own. After what we have heard tonight it is not for me to detail Hamas’s evil barbarism or the malevolence of its sponsors. President Biden too has already done that.
My focus tonight will be much closer to home. Since 20 years ago, when I spoke of antisemitism in effect if not intent in response to the Divest Israel movement, I have been alarmed. More recent developments—from Crimson endorsements of BDS, to testimonials by Israeli students regarding in-class discrimination, to vile social media posts—only heightened my concern.
Even so, I am shocked and appalled by what I have seen on university campuses including ours since October 7. I should have raised my voice louder. It is not a mistake I will make again.
